Iranians Replace Meat With Pasta as Oil Sanctions Hit Nation

Maryam Taghavi is feeding her family more pasta and grinding vegetable filler into her chopped meat as she seeks to cope with international sanctions that are taking their toll on the Iranian economy.

“These days, I mince meat with vegetable protein because we can’t afford as much meat as before,” said the 53-year-old retired accountant and mother of two. Taghavi said her monthly budget of 6,000,000 rials ($488) for food and utilities now “is nothing.”